Draft and buffer gear



1937- I s. B. HASELTINE 7 2,090,120

DRAFT AND BUFFE'R GEAR Filed March 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 17, 1937. s. B; HASELTINE 2 ,090,120

DRAFT AND BUFFER GEAR Filed March 23, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1937- s. B. IV-IASELTINE 2,090,120

- DRAFT AND BUFFER GEAR Filed March as, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet s iPatented Aug,

of Delaware e, Glen Ellyn, Ell, assignor to r, lino, Chicago, ill, a corporation Application March 23, 1936, Serial No. 70,289

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements draft bufier gears especially adapted for One object of the in ention is to provide a combined draft and buffer gear for mine cars, whorein both the draft and builing forces are cushioned by the same shock absorbing means, which directly actuated by the btn'iing head of th and simple efficie mechan l is provided for transmitt the draft or forces from the car cou 1g means to the head.

pt lir to sides of the hu ad yieldingiy o posing inw rd movement of said t lever means o means at opposi l a manner ti ad are tran, ted to to produce balanced movement of the head. vention will more c l and. claims Other ohjc ap ear from :lLEI following.

In the drawin 'ion, tinoogh the spondir. 2 and show therewith. corresponding Figure l.

verticrl section y to the line Fi ure a View, similar still another embodiment sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line 9-45 of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line l3l l of Figure 9.

Referring first to embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, ill indicates the vertical wall at one end of a mine car,

i l the floor, and 52 an angle bar member C011- necting the end wall l El and the floor i i and forming, in efifect, the end sill member of the car.

My improved combined draft and buffer gear, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, comprises broadly a support A; a buffer E; draft lever memhers C and D; a coupling pin E for connecting the levers C and D to usual coupling link; and spring resistance elements F-F.

Ihe support A is in the form of a housing fixed 5 to the vertical end wall ill of the car. The support A includes a vertical. platelike portion [3 riveted to said end wall The platelike portion. 53 forms the hack wall of the housing and provided with outwardly projecting flanges form 1g spaced v tlcal side Walls l l-l i and spaced horizont y disposed top and bottom walls lE-iil of said housing. The bottom wall I5 is centrally out as indicated at it, and the top wall 55 vertically offset at the central por- 15 tion, as indicated at ii. The portion ll of the top wall iii is he v er than the side portions of said wall 9 1d ects outwardly beyond said side portions, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. The section l? of the top wall is connected to the side portions of said top wall by short vertical flanges l8-l8. Substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof, the platelike per -'1 i8 is provided with an outstanding, cenorizontally disposed lug ill. The lug l9 and flange portion I"! are provided with vertically aligned, elongated coupling pin-receiving openings adapted to accommodate the usual coupling pin E.

The buffer head B is open at the rear and comprises a vertical front wall 2i, spaced, horizontally isposed, top and bottom Walls 22-22, and spaced, vertical, side walls 23-23. The front wall 2i presents a transversely curved outer bufiing face adapted to cooperate with the bufiing head of an adjacent car. At the rear ends, the top and bottom walls of the buffer head 33 are provided with narrow, vertically disposed, inturned flanges E l-42 i, for a purpose hereinafter point-ed out, The bufier head Bis telescoped within the housinglike support A, being slidable between the top, bottom, and side walls I5l5 i l-id of said support. Substantially midway between the opposite sides of the buffing head B, the rear portions of the top and bottom walls 2222 are cut away, as indicated at 2525, to provide clearance for certain parts of the mechanism. The central portion of the top wall 22 of the buffer head B is depressed, or downwardly offset, as indicated at 265, to provide a guide surface or support for the coupling link, which is indicated by 2'3.

The lever members 0 and D are of similar design, except as hereinafter pointed out. Each of these lever members comprises a vertical,

sleevelike bearing portion 23 having a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, laterally projecting arms 29-29 at the lower end portion thereof. The lever member C has a laterally projecting arm (it! in substantial alignment with the top arm 29 th reof and projecting diametrically opposite thereto from the bearing sleeve 28. The lever member D has a horizontal arm 3! at the upper end of the sleeve 28 thereof, projecting in a direction diametrically opposite to the arms 29-25 of said lever member. As shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the lever members C and D are arranged at opposite sides of the mechanism, each lever being pivotally supported on a vertically disposed pivot pin 32, extending through the sleeve 28 thereof, and aligned openings in the bottom wall is and the top wall section ll of the support A. The arms 29-29 of each lever member are so spaced vertically as to engage respectively with the upper and lower flanges E i-24 at the corresponding side of the buffer head 13. The outer ends of these arms are preferably rounded off, as shown in Figure 1. The laterally, inwardly projecting arm 36 of the lever member C is disposed immediately above the lug iii of the housing A, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and is slidable on said lug. The upper side of the arm is preferably in horizontal alignment with the top of the depressed portion of the top Wall of the buffer head, said arm and the depressed portion 25 of the top wall of the buffer head forming supporting means for the coupling link 2?. The arms 3*?) and 3! of the lever members C and D are provided with coupling pin-receiving openings 83-33 which are in vertical alignment, when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, to receive the coupling pin E. These openings 3-33-33 are preferably laterally enlarged to compensate for swinging movement of the lever arms 30 and 3| about the pivots The spring resistance elements- F-F are disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism. Each spring resistance element F preferably comprises two coil springs interposed between the front wall 2! of the buffer head B and the opposed seat member 34 on the corresponding side of the platelike portion or back wall it of the support or housing A. The coils of the springs are preferably held centered by the usual centering bosses provided respectively on the front wall 2! of the louder head B and the seat of the support A.

The coupling pin E is engaged through the coupling link 27 and the openings 33-33 at the outer ends of the arms so and SE of the lever members C and D and works in the openings Zii-Zil of the lug l9 and the wall portion l! of the housing or support A.

In the operation of my improved draft and buffer gear, the buffing shocks are transmitted from the buffer head of an adjacent car tothe buffer head B and the latter is forced inwardly toward the end of the car, thereby compressing the springs F-F against the rear wall of the housing A. The springs F-F thus absorb the bumng shocks.

In a draft action, the coupling link 21 is pulled outwardly thereby, through the connecting pin E, swinging the arms 2st; and 3! of the lever members C and D outwardly. The lever arms 29-29 and 29-29 of the lever members C and D are thus swung inwardly. Inasmuch as these arms 29-29 and 29-29 engage the flanges 24-24 and 24-24 of the buffer head B, the latter is forced to move inwardly against the resistance of the springs E-E and the draft shocks are thus cushioned by these springs. Inward movement of the buffer head B is limited by engagement with the seats 34-34 on the rear wall E3 of the housing A, thereby limiting the movements of the lever members C and D in draft. In this connection it is pointed out that outward movement of the buffing head B is limited by the lever members C and D through the arms 29-29 thereof, outward swinging movement of these arms being limited by engagement of the arms 36 and M with the back wall It of the housing A, each arm 38) and 3! being provided with an extension or lug 35 for this purpose.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, my improved draft and buffer gear comprises a supporting housing G; a buffer head H; a pair of lever members J-J; a draft member K; and two sets of springs M-M.

The support or housing G includes a vertical back wall 35, spaced side walls 36-36, and top and bottom walls 37 and 38. The back wall 35 is in the form of a platelike member and the walls 35-35, 3?, and 38 are in the form of outwardly projecting flanges on said plate. The housing G is secured to the end of the car in the same manner as the housing A hereinbefore described, the platelike member 35 being riveted to the end wall 56 of the car. The bottom wall 38 is downwardly offset at opposite sides of the central portion of said support or housing G to provide pockets 3%3-39 for certain lever arms, hereinafter more fully described. The central section of the top wall 3'! is upwardly offset, as most clearly shown in Figure 5, thereby providing a central pocket 4i! and two pairs of pockets 4l-4l and 42-42 below the pocket 4%, the pockets dill being located at opposite sides of the pocket 48 immediately below the same, and the pockets 42-42 being located at opposite sides of and below the pockets 4l-4l. The pockets 42-42 are in vertical alignment with the outer side portions of the corresponding pockets 39-39.

The buifer head H is in the form of a trans; versely arranged hurling member telescoped with in the housing G and having outwardly projecting, hollow, laterally spaced, buffer caplike portions 43-43 at opposite sides of the car, said cap portions 43-43 being connected by a beamlike portion 44 integral with said caplike portions. The caplike portions 43-43, together with the connecting beam 44 thus form a single, rigid buffer head structure.

The lever members J-J are of identical design, but reversely arranged. Each lever member comprises a vertically disposed bearing sleeve 45, a laterally, inwardly projecting arm 4E: at the upper end of said sleeve, and vertically spaced, laterally, outwardly projecting arms ll-4'! on said sleeve embracing the corresponding cap member 43 and respectively engaging top and bottom ribs or lugs 48-48 on said corresponding cap portion 43 of the buffer head H. The lever members J-J are disposed at opposite sides of the center of the mechanism and are swingingly supported on pivot pins 49-49 extending through the sleeve -45 of said lever members and the top and bottom walls of the housing G. The

lever arms 41-41 of each member J are accom- I modated for swinging movement in the top and bottom pockets 42 and 39 at the corresponding side of the housing G. The laterally, inwardly projecting top arms 46-46 of the lever members J-J are swingingly accommodated in the pockets -41 and cooperate with the draft member K.

The draft member K is in the form of a yoke having top and bottom, forwardly projecting, vertically spaced arms fi-50 connected at their rear ends by a relatively heavy vertical section 5i. The yoke K is accommodated in the pocket 48 of the housing G and is slidingly supported on the beamlike portion 44 of the buffer head H. The arms 5il-5ll of the draft member or yoke K straddle the extremities of the arms !B46 of the lever members JJ, and the vertical section 5| of said yoke is provided with rounded bearing seats 5252 within which the outer ends of the arms d645 engage, the extremities of said arms being rounded as shown.

Each set of springs M preferably comprises two coils. The sets are disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism, one set being contained within each buffer cap member 33. The springs of each set are interposed between the Vertical rear wall 35 of the housing G and the front wall of the corresponding cap member, and said sets of springs together yieldingly oppose inward movement of the buffer head H.

The draft member K is connected to the usual coupling link 53 by a coupling pin 54 engaged through said link and aligned openings in the top and bottom arms 5B56 of the draft member, the link being accommodated between said arms.

In the operation of my improved mechanism, the buffer head H is forced inwardly against the resistance of the springs M--1VI by engagement with a buffer head of an adjacent car, thus absorbing the buffing shocks. During draft action of the mechanism, the draft member or yoke K is pulled outwardly by the connecting link 53, thereby swinging the arms 4646 of the lever members JJ outwardly and rocking the lever members on their pivots. The arms 41-41 and 47-47 of the lever members J J are thus swung inwardly forcing the buffer head H inwardly also by engagement with the lugs 4848 of the cap members 43-43 of said head. The draft shocks are thus absorbed by the springs MM which yieldingly oppose inward movement of the buffer head H.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 8, 9, and 10, my improved draft and buffer gear comprises a supporting housing P; a buffer head R; a pair of levers SS; a draft member T; and spring resistance means W.

The housing P is similar to the housing G, hereinbefore described, and is fixed to the vertical end wall ll] of the car in a like manner.

The lever members SS and the draft member T are also of substantially the same design as the levers JJ and the draft member K, hereinbefore described.

The buffer head R is in the form of a hollow cap open at the rear and having a transversely rounded, outer buffer face. The head R comprises spaced, horizontally disposed top and bottom walls 6055, spaced, vertical side walls fil6i, and a vertical front wall 62. The head R is telescoped within the housing G and is slidable thereon. At opposite sides of the head R, top and bottom abutment ribs or lugs 63-453 and 63-63 are provided, which are engaged by the arms 64-64 and 6454 of the lever members SS. The lever members SS are rocked by the draft member T in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figures 4, 5, 6, and '7,

the draft member cooperating with the inwardly extending arms 65-65 at the upper ends of said lever members S-S.

The spring W is. disposed within the buffer head R and comprises four coil springs, two of said coil springs being arranged at the center of the mechanism between the pivots of the lever members SS, and the remaining coil springs being arranged at opposite sides of the mechanism outwardly of said pivots. The coils forming the spring means M are interposed between the front wall of the buffer head and the vertical rear wall of the housing, thus yieldingly opposing inward movement of said head.

The operation of the device shown in Figures 8', 9, and 10 is substantially the same as the operation of the device shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and '7, and therefore needs no further description.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a transversely disposed buffer head at the end of the car; of cushioning means opposing inward movement of said head; a pulling element actuated in draft; and lever means actuated by said pulling element and engaging said buffer head at opposite sides to force the same inwardly in draft.

2. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a fixed abutment means on the end of the car; of a supporting member; a pulling member; a transversely disposed buifer head having portions at opposite sides of said pulling member, said buffer head being slidable inwardly on said supporting member; cushioning means interposed between said buffer head and said abutment means and opposing inward movement of said head; and lever means at opposite sides of said pulling member for transferring the draft force from the pulling member to opposite sides of said buffer head for forcing the latter inwardly toward said fixed abutment means.

3. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a fixed abutment means on the end of the car; of a supporting member; a transversely disposed buffer head at the end of the car movable inwardly on the supporting member; bearing abutments on said head at opposite sides thereof; cushioning means interposed between said abutment means and head opposing inward movement of said head; a pulling member movable outwardly away from the end of the car, said pulling member being disposed between said bearing abutments; and lever means at opposite sides of said pulling member, each lever means having arms respectively operatively engaging one of said bearing abutments and said pulling element to force said head inwardly when said lever means is swung by outward movement of said pulling member.

4. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with fixed abutment means on the end of the car; of a supporting member; a transversely disposed buffer head movable inwardly on the supporting member; cushioning means interposed between said head and abutment means opposing inward movement of the buffer head; a pulling member movable outwardly away from the end of the car in draft; and a pair of levers, each of said levers being pivoted between its ends, the pivots of said levers being disposed respectively at opposite sides of the pulling member, and each lever having one end engaging the pulling member and the other end engaging the buffer head for forcing the latter inwardly when the pulling member is moved outwardly away from the end of the car.

5. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with fixed abutment means on the end of the car; of a supporting member; a transversely disposed, horizontally arranged buffer head movable inwardly of said supporting member; cushioning means interposed between said head and said abutment means, said cushioning means opposing inward movement of the buffer head; transversely arranged abutments on said head at opposite sides thereof; a pulling member movable outwardly away from the car in draft, said pulling member being movably mountedat a point between said transverse abutments; and a pair of levers at opposite sides of said pulling member, each lever being pivoted between its ends for swinging movement about a vertical axis, each lever having its opposite ends in onerative engagement respectively with the pull ing member and the transverse abutment at the corresponding side of the buffer head.

6. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support; of a pulling member movable outwardly away from the end of the car; levers at opposite sides of said pulling member pivoted on said support, each lever having laterally, inwardly and outwardly extending arms, said inwardly extending arms being operatively engaged by said pulling member to swing said arms outwardly in draft to rock support;

said levers and swing the outer arms inwardly; a transversely disposed buffer head having abutment'means thereon at opposite sides thereof enga'geable by said outer arms to move said buffer head; and cushioning means opposing inward movement of said head.

7. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support; of a transversely disposed buffer head movable inwardly on said cushioning means opposing inward movementoi said head; top and bottom abutments on said buffer head at each side thereof; a pulling member; and a pair of lever members pivoted on said support at opposite sides of said pulling member, each of said lever members having a laterally, inwardly extending arm and a pair of laterally, outwardly extending arms, said inwardly extending arm of said lever being engaged with and actuated by said pulling member and outwardly extending arms of each lever engaging with the top and bottom abutments respectively at the corresponding side of the buffer head to force the head inwardly in draft.

8. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support; of a transversely disposed buiier head movable inwardly on said support; cushioning means opposing inward movement of said head; a pulling element adapted to be pulled outwardly in draft; lever members pivoted at opposite sides of said pulling element for actuating said buffer head, said lever members including a pair of laterally, inwardly projecting arms, one on each lever member, said arms being spaced vertically and said pulling element being disposed between said arms; and a coupling link connecting said arms to said pulling element.

9. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support; of a transversely disposed buffer head movable inwardly on said support; cushioning means opposing inward movement of said head; a yokelike pulling element having bearing seats at opposite sides thereof; and lever members pivoted on said support at opposite sides of said pulling element for actuating said buifer head in draft, said lever members including laterally, inwardly extending arms having their outer ends engaged in said seats to be swung outwardly upon outward movement of said pulling element.

10. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support; of spring abutment means on said support; a transversely disposed buffer head; a central pulling element movable outwardly with respect to said support in draft; levers pivoted on said support at opposite sides of said pulling element for transmitting the actuating force from said pulling element to the buffer head; and spring resistance means opposing inward movement of said head including a plurality of spring elements interposed between said head and said spring abutment means, said elements including a plurality of springs disposed between the pivots of said levers, and additional springs disposed outwardly of said pivots. I

11. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a transversely disposed buffer head at the end of the car; of cushioning means opposing inward movement of said head; a pulling element above said buifer head actuated in draft; and lever means pivoted at opposite sides of the mechanism operatively connected to and actuated by said pulling element and engaging buffer head at opposite sides to force the same inwardly in draft.

12. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a transversely disposed buffer head at the end of the car; of cushioning means opposing inward movement of said head; a coupling link slidingly supported on top of the buffer head; lever means pivoted on a vertical axis and having engagement with the buffer head to force the same inwardly in draft, said lever means including arms swingable in horizontal planes; and a coupling pin connecting said arms to said link.

STACY B. I-IASEL'IINE. 

